15 years later – Storybrook – Curse is broken
Regina's home
"I want to redeem myself" she said to Henry. She watched as David took him, leaving her standing alone. She meant what she had said, she wanted to be better, but she had no idea how. She stood there for a long time, thinking. "I may not know how but I may know someone who does" she said aloud, she just hoped she would be willing to help.
Regina input the code to the "special" ward she had for those "difficult" people. She walked down the stairs, the nurses station was vacant. She rounded the corner and found all the cell doors open, noting as she walked past them, no one was in them. She reached the end of the hallway, stood in front of the only door to the left. It was ajar so she opened it further and looked in. She seen no one and her heart sank. "What do you want" came a voice to her left. Regina walked in and found the girl sitting crossed legged on the floor. "Well, what do you want Regina?" she said flatly, not looking up. "How did you know it was me?" Regina asked. "You've kept me in here for years with out a visitor. Who else would come in here?" Myra asked rhetorically. Regina bent down and took a seat in front of Myra. The girl looked up at her, her face void of any emotion. "Well?" Myra asked, "The curse has been broken, you're little perfect world has collapsed." Myra stated, "have you finally come to do away with me for good?" she asked emotionless. She had had 15 years to accept her fate, she was more then ready to meet it.
Regina looked down at the floor, Myra could sense something was different about her. Myra waited for her to speak. "I have done some terrible things," Regina paused, "and it never works out the way I want them to." Regina looked back at Myra who was eyeing her intently, hanging on her every word. "I," Regina stopped and looked away from her brown eyes, the words about to come out of her were going to hurt, "I'm sorry." Regina whispered. Myra leaned forward and placed her hand on Regina knee. Regina looked at her, tears in her eyes. How could this child still be here after all she has done to her. The curse was broken, Regina had lost all power, she could have run and been free. Why was she still here. "Myra," Regina began, "nothing I say or do will ever make up for the things I did to you." Regina waited for Myra to say something, anything, but she didn't. She just kept looking at her. "Now you're short on words?" she chuckled. Myra sat back, taking a moment before she answered. "Well, when you have had no one to talk to for as long as I have, you learn to listen rather then talk." She smiled. "Why are you here Regina?" She asked again, more gentle this time. Regina explained Henry and Emma, what had happened in the town. She held nothing back, if anyone was going to help it was her daughter. Myra listened and for that Regina was grateful. Somehow, even with all the things she has done and is now telling her, Regina never got the feeling that Myra was judging her.
"I want to redeem myself," Regina said, "But how can I after all that I've done?" she asked Myra, not really expecting answer. Myra chuckled, "How is that funny?" Regina asked sternly. "Fate is cruel mistress who works in way only she can understand" was Myra's reply. Regina looked at her questionably. "When you put me in here all those years ago, do you remember what you asked me?" Myra said. "Something about a trinket I think" replied Regina. "And do you remember what I told you?" Regina thought about it for a moment. "Something about 'I wouldn't understand'" Regina replied. Myra smiled at her, "I think you are ready." She simply stated. Regina smiled at her, "Understand what?" she asked. "Take my hands" Myra said holding her hands out. "Why?" Regina asked. "Trust me." Myra smiled back at her. Regina slowly reached for Myra's hands. "Relax," came Myra's voice, "You will soon understand.
"Open your eyes" whispered Myra. Regina opened her eyes. She was shocked to see that they were no longer in the ward, but back in the Enchanted forest it seemed. The y were standing on a hill top, looking over a small cottage at the edge of the forest. Regina could Horses and a garden, a well, and chickens. Regina looked to Myra who was staring at the cottage. "Where are we?" she asked. "A memory" was the simple reply. Myra began walking towards the cottage, Regina jogged to catch up to her. They reached the back door and Myra stopped. "Why did you stop?" she asked. Myra opened the door and motioned for her to enter first. Hesitantly, Regina entered. She seen a modest dwelling. Riding gear everywhere and two beds on the far side. She heard laughter coming from somewhere off to the right. She walked towards it. She came to the door way and began to peer over, she breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight. It was Danel, his head thrown back in a hearty laugh. Tears began to swell in her eyes, she never thought she would hear his laugh again. She continued to look around the corner and there she saw her self, laughing with Danel. "I don't remember this?" She asked outload. "It never happened to you" came an answer behind her. She turned to see Myra sitting at the foot of the larger of the two beds. "Then how can this be a memory?" Regina asked. "Myra!" came the laughing tone of memory Regina, "Hurry up with that bread, your father is about to eat the table!" she exclaimed. Regina turned and seen Myra running up to the table, a large smile on her face, and setting the plate of bread and butter down.
Regina turned back towards Myra, still sitting on the bed, watching with tears in her eyes as the scene unfolded before her. "How is this a memory?" Regina asked in disbelief. "A deal was made" said Myra with no emotion, still watching the happy family eating their dinner. Regina watched as Danel made faces with is utensils, making the memory versions of them laugh harder. "Oh, Myra," Regina said through tears as she looked back to the girl. She turned around to find the dining room had changed. The laughter once there was now quite. Memory Myra was setting the table when there was a knock at the door. Regina looked back to Myra looking for an explanation. She was beginning to cry, "Mother!?" yelled memory Regina. Regina looked back and seen her mother in the door way. "Fate is cruel" Myra said coming to stand next to her, "It always finds us." Regina watched as this new scene unfolded. She seen Danel fall to the ground, seen memory Regina yell at memory Myra to run. Memory Myra ran right through them. Regina followed her with her eyes and then began to turn after her. Myra stood a moment longer, sorrow filled her as she knew what was about to come. She followed her mother out the back door. Regina was standing behind memory Regina as she held Myra in her arms. Both crying, Regina turned toward her mother standing on top of the hill, the very hill Regina and Myra had started from. She seen the heart in her hand and realized what was about to happen. Regina ran towards her mother, trying to stop her from doing what she knew was coming. Just as she lunged for Cora, attempting to grab Myra's she found herself in black nothingness.
Regina looked to her hands, empty, and then turned to face Myra. She was staring at her. You do love her" she said. Regina walked towards her, "I don't understand" Regina said. "What are your strengths Mother?" Myra asked. Regina felt all the emotions she had pushed down for so long for her child. She broke down in tears, a weight had been lifted. Her daughter still loved her, even after all that the pain she had caused her, she still cared. "Myra, what have I done?" "Everything that you needed to." Myra answered cryptically. "We all have a destiny," Myra said, "Danel was destined to die. It was the first step to bring you here. To this moment" Regina looked at Myra, how could she, a child, speak of destiny. "You weren't ready to know the truth behind my ring." Myra continued, "You want redemption?" she asked, "Your redemption is with her" Myra pointed to memory Regina, smiling and happy, "She has always been inside of you, you just have to find her." "I don't understand, I was neve that women" Regina said. "You were always that women," Myra explained, "but, had this story unfolded this way you would have never become the strong, determined, and confident women you are today. You would never have been able to stand up to your mother, you would never have been able to raise a child on your own, you would not have been prepared to meet your destiny."
Regina was dumbfounded. What she said made so much sense. She was stronger, stronger then she ever thought possible. The blackness around began to fade, Regina found herself, seated on the floor in front of Myra, still holding her hands. She squeezed Myra's hands tighter, how could she have been so blind. All she needed was always right in front of her. Myra had never given up on her even though she had given up on herself and any happiness she could have had. Myra began to sway, "Myra, what's wrong?" Regina asked concerned. "It took more out of me then I thought it would." Myra whispered, "I need to lie down." Regina helped her to her feet and moved her to the bed. "After all this time, after all that has happened, you still believe in me?" Regina asked gently. "I had given up hope, but then I was offered a deal that changed my mind." She smiled. "You know she is inside you; you just have to let her out. Once you do you will have your redemption."
Regina watched her for a moment. Hope she thought, hope was all she had, that and a prayer. Everything made sense now, she had hated her for so long, blaming her for something that wasn't even her fault. It made it harder to know she did all that to Danels child, to their child. She would never be able to forgive herself for that. She still held Myra's hand in her own. She caressed it, she has his soft hands she thought. She brought Myra's hand up and gently kissed it. "I will never hurt you or allow anyone to hurt you ever again" she whispered to her sleeping daughter. "Never."
Myra awoke in a soft bed. "ugh" she groaned as she got up. Her head pounding and every fiber of her being screaming in protest. She looked around the room, white walls, antique furniture, floor length curtains, "Where the hell am I" she asked out loud. "In my home" came her mothers voice, "I couldn't just leave you in that ward" she said as she set a try of food down on the bed. "Why?" Myra asked sarcastically, "you put me there to begin with." "Myra, I am never going to hurt you again, I promise" Regina said as she went to place her hand on Myra's thigh. Myra jumped out of the bed, "What the hell do you want?" She asked, fear in her voice, "I did everything you ever asked, I even stayed after everyone else had left. What more do you want from me!?" She cried. Regina didn't understand, she shared her most precious memory with her, why was she acting like this. Regina stood up, "Myra do you not remember?" she asked walking slowly towards her. Myra's eyes darted around the room, looking for a way out. Regina held out her hand, trying to calm the poor child. "I know about Danel," she said, "I know about your deal with the dark one, I know that I love you." Myra stopped, it was impossible, she had never told anyone. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "You showed me, you showed me another life, a happy life with me, you, and your father, Danel. Don't you remember?" Regina asked. Myra shook her head. Why would I tell her that, let alone show her!
"Please," Regina whispered, "I wont hurt you. Come, eat something" she said, patting the bed, beckoning Myra to sit next to her. Myra eyed her, not fully trusting her, but her hunger was louder then her heart. She slowly sat on the bed, Regina reached over and grabbed the try. "You always loved cinnamon and sugar hot cakes" she smiled. "I'm not hungry" Myra stated. "I didn't do anything to them," she said and then took a bite. Myra watched her cautiously. Once she swallowed, Myra took the plate and began to devour the pancake. They were so good; she couldn't remember the last time she had something so delicious. Regina watched her with joy. She didn't even care that syrup was beginning to trickle down the girls face and onto her bed spread. This was a new feeling for her, watching her daughter in delight. She had watched her as a child, the same look of joy on her face, but never allowed herself to feel what she felt now. To feel love towards her. Once Myra was done she asked, through a mouth full of food, "What will you do now?" "To redeem myself, by finding the women in your memory." "She's not real" Myra told her, "She doesn't exist. She's…" Myra cut herself off and looked to the floor, "Inside of me," Regina finished. Myra looked at her mother, it was as if she was seeing her for the first time. The women were smiling at her, Myra sensed nothing sinister in it. It was genuine. "Okay," she said simply.